Karachi: Pakistan have re-appointed brigadier (retd.) Khwaja Mohammed Nasir as manager of the national cricket team after the departure of Yawar Saeed, the Pakistan Cricket Board announced on Thursday.

A statement said Saeed had asked to be allowed to step down “due to personal circumstances” and that Brigadier Nasir would be manager for next month’s series against Australia.

Saeed’s departure had been widely predicted following the removal of coach Mudassar Nazar after the team’s recent poor performances.

The media held Saeed equally to blame for the squad’s rapid plunge in form just three months after they beat Australia in Australia.

“Saeed recounted the team’s recent poor performance and said fitness problems were the main reason behind the team’s slump,” the PCB said.

Nasir was manager between November 1999 and December 2000. He sparked a controversy when in June 2000 he accused India of being the hub of match-fixing.

Meanwhile, pace bowler Mohammad Zahid has been cleared to join the team in Sri Lanka after passing a fitness test.

Pakistan meet Australia in Colombo from October 3 in the first match of a three-Test series. The second and third Tests will be played in Sharjah from October 11-15 and October 19-23.

The home series was shifted to neutral venues over security fears.